THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO UNDERWRITE NEWS AGGREGATION AND CONTENT WHICH PROMOTES RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR PUBLIC INTEREST.
Key facts about Real Clear Foundation
- EIN
- 52-2128875
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,705,242
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- Average grant
- $1,568,414
- Median grant
- $1,000,000
- Total assets
- $6,429,602
- Primary geography
- Illinois (79% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Real Clear Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Real Clear Foundation's 3 itemized 2025 grants were Illinois (79%) and Maryland (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Northbrook, IL (2 grants). None of its 3 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.
How Real Clear Foundation gives
- Giving grew 4605% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Next steps with Real Clear Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.4M
-27.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.7M
+27.6% YoY
Grant Count
3
-25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.6M
+70.1% YoY
About Real Clear Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Real Clear Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Education, based in Northbrook, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $4.7M. Net investment income was $250K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 3 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,429,602 | $8,912,529 | $4,242,053 |
| Revenue | $7,433,300 | $13,493,125 | $8,476,449 |
| Expenses | $10,396,766 | $8,756,104 | $9,154,676 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $250,277 | $47,083 | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Real Clear Holdings LLC ($3,651,992), Palladium Pictures LLC ($1,000,000), Real Clear Media Fund ($53,250).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| REAL CLEAR HOLDINGS LLC Northbrook, IL | TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WITH THE INTEREST OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC. | $3,651,992 |
| PALLADIUM PICTURES LLC Chevy Chase, MD | TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WITH THE INTEREST OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC. | $1,000,000 |
| REAL CLEAR MEDIA FUND Northbrook, IL | TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WITH THE INTEREST OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC. | $53,250 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Desrosiers | President | 40 | $178,500 |
| John McIntyre | Treasurer | 15 | — |
| Andrew Walworth | Director | 2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Real Clear Foundation?
Real Clear Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Education, based in Northbrook, IL. It holds $6.4M in total assets as of 2025.
How large is Real Clear Foundation?
As of 2025, Real Clear Foundation holds $6.4M in total assets with $7.4M in annual revenue. It awarded 3 grants totaling $4.7M in 2025.
Where does Real Clear Foundation operate?
Real Clear Foundation has awarded grants in District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia.
What size grants does Real Clear Foundation award?
In 2025, Real Clear Foundation awarded 3 grants totaling $4.7M — an average of about $1.6M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Real Clear Foundation's EIN?
Real Clear Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2128875. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.